Self Expression through Fajitas

Chicken fajitas with white rice & red beans.


Fajitas are so simple to make because only three things actually need to be cooked: the chicken, the rice and the beans. It gets even easier when you use the boil-a-bag rice! Fajitas are actually a fun way to express yourself based on what you choose to put inside them. You can make them spicy, super cheesy, plain, topped with everything you've got, or anything in between. I personally like to put chicken, cheese, lettuce, salsa and guacamole in mine, and sometimes I put the rice and beans in the fajita, but like I said, what you do with your fajita is entirely your choice.


Ingredients:
Chicken
Adobo
White rice
Red Goya beans
1 packet of sazón
Sofrito
Tomato paste
1 tbs vegetable oil
Tortillas
Toppings (cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pepper, hot sauce, salsa, guacamole, sour cream...literally whatever you want)

Here's how it's done:
• In a medium pot, heat 1 tbs of oil on low flame for 15 seconds.
• Add 1 packet of sazón, then fill packet with hot water & add that to pan.
• Add 3-4 spoonfuls of Sofrito.
• Add 2-3 spoonfuls of tomato paste.
• Let it all simmer for 15-20 seconds.
• Strain beans before adding them to pot.
• Fill bean can halfway with water & add to pot.
• Raise flame & boil.
• Once it boils, lower the flame and let simmer, stirring occasionally until ready to serve.


Meanwhile:
• In a small pot, boil water for rice. Once water is boiling, put bag of rice in the pot. Remove the rice when the water boils again (about 10 minutes).
• While making the rice, start cooking the chicken.
• Put either Pam or butter in pan, season chicken with Adobo while it cooks.
• Make sure chicken is fully cooked, cut into strips and it's ready for your fajitas!


Load up your fajitas with the chicken and whatever toppings you see fit. You can even throw the rice and beans in there if you want! Roll it up and enjoy :)

Savory Steak with a Simple side

Marinated cube steak and tri-color rotini pasta. 

Don't get freaked out by the seemingly random assortment of ingredients for the marinade! I normally stray away from trying new things, but my boyfriend made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious, and doesn't taste anything like that ketchup, salt and pepper concoction you used to make at the end of dinner when you were a kid. The pasta is pretty simple and can be replaced with any kind of pasta you like with any kind of sauce you like. 

Ingredients:

Cube steak (3-4 pieces)

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

Tri-color rotini

Pecorino Romano cheese

Black pepper

Here's how it's done:

• Combine the ketchup, vegetable oil, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a bowl and stir until oil is mixed in well.

• Pour marinade into ziplock bag with steak and let sit in refrigerator for 4 hours.

• Cover a pan with cooking spray. Cook each piece of steak over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile:

• Bring water to boil in a pot large enough to hold desired amount of pasta.

• Once water is boiled, pour pasta in.

• Cook for about 5-8 minutes, or until the pasta is as soft as you'd like it.

• Strain immediately (pasta will continue to cook in the hot water).

• Add whatever sauce or cheese you like.

Put it all on your plate and enjoy :)